Recap
Report
A goal in the final ten minutes proved the difference as the Peacocks suffered defeat in their opening Southern League game on the road. For much of a dull encounter it appeared as though Taunton had done enough to secure a point despite creating next to nothing but a lapse in concentration at the back negated the solid defending that had gone before.
The visitors showed one change from the opening day humdinger against Gloucester, with Owen Brain not fit and replaced by Alfie Moulden. Any hopes though that this midweeker in Dorset would conjure up the same thrills and spills were way off the mark. The Peacocks started brightly enough, winning an early corner which came to nothing before the Dolphins posted the first effort, Oakley Hanger driving an angled shot across goal. Antonio Diaz’s run for the hosts was then halted on the edge of the box but Town’s wall did its job to block Jake McCarthy’s free kick.
The remainder of the first half continued in the same vein, with little to set the pulses racing. What threat there was came mainly from Poole, with former Peacock Toby Holmes’ connecting with Tyrique Clarke’s cross but seeing his header fall straight to keeper Adam Parkes. The clearest opening came just before the break when Jamie Whisken’s header threatened to loop in at the far post until Tom Purrington headed clear off the line, with the follow-up corner nodded over by Harry Thomas.
Entertainment levels failed to rise after the break, and although Poole enjoyed more of the attacking intent they rarely troubled Parkes in the opposition goal. The same could be said for his opposite number Cameron Plain who might have sneaked a night off to watch Celebrity Masterchef, such was his inactivity. Moulden registered Town’s only real strike at goal in the 90 minutes, volleying high over after a cleared long throw before Thomas dragged a shot well wide at the other end.
Taunton made a triple swap in the space of three minutes, but this failed to ignite the display. A Tyler Forbes cross flashed across goal as the home side kept pressing but Taunton remained stable until the 83rd minute when a Forbes flick through was missed by Toby Down and with his fellow defenders caught out, Charlie Davis seized on the ball to fire across Parkes into the far corner from the right side of the box. The Peacocks promptly made their final two substitutions but despite another four minutes of added time, the damage had been done as Town departed empty-handed.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Adam Parkes, Eddie Jones (Calum English-Brown 84), Ryan Crouch, Ollie Woodhouse, Toby Down, Tom Purrington (Harris Feltham 84), Tom Smith (captain), Archie Ferris (David Duru 70), Jake Hodgson, Alfie Moulden (Charlie Dashfield 68), Evander Grubb (Ethan Vaughan 68)
Poole: Cameron Plain, Oakley Hanger (Tyler Forbes 62), Antonio Diaz (Jamar Smith 74), Josh Staunton, Jamie Whisken (captain), Billy Lowes, Jake McCarthy, Toby Holmes (Jack Hoey 82), Harry Thomas, Harvey Slade (Charlie Davis 62), Tyrique Clarke (Luke Holmes 62).
Officials
Referee: Jack Bromham (Glastonbury)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Antony Smith (Christchurch)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Luke Fletcher (Bournemouth)
Attendance
665
Reaction
“No disgrace in the performance but we’ve got to cut the errors out…..” watch the reaction of manager Richard Luffman on Peacocks TV HERE
Highlights
Match highlights courtesy of Poole Town FC can be seen HERE
Photos
Match photos from club photographer Debbie Gould can be viewed HERE
Taunton Town MOM
Jake Hodgson was named Taunton Town Man Of The Match, photo to follow